The 1970's

At the start of the 1970's, there were 1,535 people living in 398 homes in Pleasant Hill. After a decade of rapid growth., the town was still expanding. Many additional houses were still being planned. Pleasant Hill was surpassing the projections for growth made at the town's birth.

Despite the growing number of residential properties, the town was still dependent upon the tax dollars derived from the energy companies. The residents paid only 16.944 mills of tax, which amounted to less than 20% of the town's budget. The newly elected mayor, Lawrence Hopper, explained that the residents alone did not pay enough taxes to provide all of the town's current services.

Rumors Spawn New Goal

Because of the town's dependence on two main tax payers, rumors in early 1970 that Iowa Power and Light might close its plant were taken seriously in Pleasant Hill. There was no direct action by Ipalco to leave, but the rumors spread. Ipalco was trying to get the necessary permission and land to build a nuclear generating plant near Prairie City. Many people concluded that if the plant were built, the one at Pleasant Hill would be shut down.

This fear of Ipalco possibly closing the old generating plant (the oldest turbine was built in 1935) became the basis of the town's goals for the next ten years and beyond. There was realization by Pleasant Hill's leaders that the town had to reduce its dependence on energy. "We need to get more land for development," Hopper said. "We are thinking of commercial activity in particular." The future planning of the mayors and councils was voted in the idea of weaning the town from its dependence on Iowa Power by attracting more business to town. Pleasant Hill needed independence and an identity of its own.

The first mayor and council of the decade took office on January 1, 1970. Besides Mayor Hopper, the town's leaders were councilmen Cecil Cook, Roy Christian, Dennis Sissel, Charles Brown, and Herbert Winters. A. Pauline Thurman, who had been deputy clerk under Anne Witzenburg, was now the town clerk. Chuck Dales was still police chief, but now had six officers to help him. The fire chief was still Cliff Lex.

In 1971 the town finally acquired an identity. Prior to then, the town did not have a symbol. The signs for the town, developed in the 1950's, just had “Pleasant Hill" written on them. The Jaycees sponsored an art contest to develop a town logo. Carol Hamilton's design of the green abstract hill was deemed most appropriate for the town of Pleasant Hill.